That's up one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 8.8 percent in November.

The number of unemployed workers in the area increased to 15,856, up 330 from 15,526, according to the Georgia Dept. of Labor. The jobless rate in the metro Savannah area in December 2009 was 8.5 percent.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent in December, up two-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 10 percent in November. The rate was 10.3 percent in December 2009.

The amount first-time jobless claims filed in the Savannah area is up 34.9 percent from 2,697 laid-off workers in December to 1,999 workers in November.